Finally, a detective-based, puzzle-solving mystery game that has a unique feel, interesting storyline, and puzzles that leave you guessing but don’t make you switch the game off in frustration. Enter Alan Sharp!

Created by Mystive Studios, Alan Sharp was a project of love that started back in 2016 by Boban Mojsovski, Vlatko Dojchinoski & Zanko Mojsovski (the latter joining in 2018). Being personally funded by the trio (no crowdfunding!) and with a goal of creating a quote ‘challenging and interesting game for the lovers of mystery, adventure, and horror games’, Alan Sharp has all the twists and turns you’re after…

GAMEPLAY

You are dropped back to Boston, 1970. Our protagonist, Sam Whithers, heads inside a local Police Station. Upon meeting and greeting the city’s finest, Whithers is questioned about the location of Alan Sharp — legendary Detective, whom Whithers was previously his assistant/apprentice. After claiming the duo had a falling out, Whithers is presented with a new case. A family has been torn apart, their child murdered and the Father being duped as the criminal. However, the Father claims he was seeing spirits and consistently heard voices. Though upset, the Mother also confirms his claims, stating that she too had experienced a brush with the unknown.

Whithers travels to the scene of the crime — Begger’s Hole/Regan’s Manor. Upon arrival, you’ll be a brave soul if you don’t get a shiver shooting up your spine. This place is spooky, and the background music/dreary setting doesn’t do any favours to brighten the mood. A series of clues, puzzles, jump scares, flashbacks, and encounters with the abnormal will have you wincing, yelping, jumping, and praying that you can “Just get through this part, please nothing jump out at me,” which is definitely a long, lost feeling to the mystery games!

The storyline deals with occult/otherworld entities, but in a way that makes it somewhat relatable and realistic. While other games may take outrageous and ludicrous story twists and turns, Alan Sharp keeps you on track, allowing the turns and swerves to still make the storyline track ride enjoyable, without creating confusion or derailment which would lead to a disinterest/power off button.

The control system of Alan Sharp is simple but effective. Gone are the days of long, multi-button pressing systems other games require for you to unlock a door, reload a gun or cast a spell. Alan Sharp’s movement uses the WASD system, Left Click/E is the interact button, F for Flashlight, and CTRL is crouch. Seriously simple.

The puzzle-solving system is actually enjoyable! Yes, they do tend to send you on a wild goose chase as you open up every draw and ravaging every locked door for items that, sometimes, you aren’t even sure what they’re needed for — only for the game to reward you later on for your keen eye and rabid hunting prowess.

GRAPHICS + SOUND

For a self-funded game built inside the Unreal Engine, the graphics in this game really aren’t that bad. Are they basic? Yes. Are they bad? No. Does it keep you engaged? Yes! Sometimes, bad graphics = bad game. Even though the graphics aren’t Rockstar Games level of detail, there’s something unique and beloved about the gritty and raw self-built graphics and levels that make you appreciate how much time, effort, and love has gone into this.

The one thing that does affect the game and take you out of the world of Alan Sharp is the voice acting. It’s hard for me to even critique this game, given that the trio has done this off their own money without crowdfunding, but some of the lines delivered in the game really seem like the actors may have not fully understood the severity of the scene or the context in which their characters are portrayed.

CONCLUSION

At the time of writing this, the Prologue is the only released chapter, but there is a lot of hope and interest for this series. It’s a welcomed shock-paddle-powered hit to the dying heartbeat of the mystery-puzzle-solving genre, and Alan Sharp looks to keep the genre alive and well, with many more chapters to be released in the near future.

Written by: Brutaleo